Paths of regional resilience: impacts of crisis and spatial development prospects in the region of Western Macedonia

Abstract

The article, based on an ongoing ESPON research project, examines the responses of regional economies in their effort to cope with the impacts of economic crises. It argues, on the basis of the recent European experience, that it seems necessary to explore the alternative paths of regional resilience taking into account all place specific factors. The first two sections support the view that generic explanations and/or alleged remedies, despite their popularity among researchers and policy makers, do not always offer appropriate solutions for all types of regional economies. The next two sections focus upon the case study of West Macedonia and underline the significance of historical trajectories, social structures and the geography of place as the key factors of regional resilience. The article concludes that the formulation of customized and effective actions and policies should take into account both the need to reform structural elements that have been rooted for decades and the significance of social mobilization for the implementation of collective visions and initiatives.